Accusations are flying over what Republican Senate nominee Linda McMahon meant when she said "we ought to look at those issues" in response to a question about reducing the minimum wage during a press conference last week. In an interview with CNN, Linda McMahon says she did not hear the question correctly. McMahon tells CNN, "I thought I was answering a question that I had heard that was about increasing the minimum wage - would I consider that. So let me just go on record and say this: I am not for decreasing the minimum wage. I did not say that and that is not something I would consider." When asked if she "misunderstood the question and misspoke" she replied, "yes."

This has become a point of contention between the campaigns of McMahon and Democratic Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. The Blumenthal campaign has seized on the comment, asserting in an ad launched late last week: "Now she's talking about lowering the minimum wage." McMahon fired back calling that a lie.

Waterbury, Connecticut (CNN) – We caught up with GOP Senate candidate Linda McMahon just as the new CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation Poll was released showing her with a 13-point deficit–considerably larger than the 4-point hole she was in according to a Quinnipiac University survey out last week.

(CNN) - Wade Smith, John Edwards's attorney, confirms to CNN that "there have been a sizable number of subpoenas issued". Smith said he did not know when the Grand Jury would convene but assumes it would be within the next 30 days. He did not know who issued the subpoenas or to whom they were issued.

(CNN) - The Obama administration vastly underestimated the tens of thousands of barrels of oil pouring into the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, despite contrary information from scientists using better methodologies, a report from a national panel investigating the response said Wednesday.

And, the report said, the White House Office of Management and Budget squelched higher worst-case estimates once government officials accepted them, preventing the public from hearing them.

(CNN) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Wednesday strongly defended her party's support of the federal food stamp program - a day after former Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich argued that GOP candidates should use the growing number of people on food stamps against Democrats on the campaign trail.

At a press conference in her home town of San Francisco, Pelosi explained that the program's multiplier effect –the amount of money generated in the local economy as the result of the subsidy– far exceeds the nearly $60 billion spent this year by the federal government and is a sure-fire way to stimulate the economy. For every dollar a person receives in food stamps, Pelosi said that $1.79 is put back into the economy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture cites an even higher figure of $1.84.FULL POST

(CNN) - In the battle for Connecticut's open Senate seat, a new poll indicates that longtime Democratic state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal leads Republican nominee and former pro-wrestling executive Linda McMahon by 13 points among likely voters.

According to a CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday, 54 percent of likely voters back Blumenthal, the Democrat's nominee, with 41 percent supporting McMahon, who along with her husband Vince McMahon, managed World Wrestling Entertainment for two decades. The poll indicates that Blumenthal has a nine point advantage among Independent voters and 19 point lead among voters 50 and older.

Washington (CNN) - CNN has learned that Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell came to Washington on Wednesday to meet with National Republican Senatorial Chairman John Cornyn. It was their first face-to-face meeting since her upset victory 22 days ago.

A senior NRSC official told CNN that O'Donnell met with Cornyn at NRSC headquarters, and agreed that a top NRSC aide would go to Delaware on Thursday to sit down with her campaign advisers to help with budgetary and other items.

It is no secret that Cornyn and other GOP leaders were not happy that O'Donnell beat Rep. Mike Castle, whom they considered much more likely to take the seat out of Democratic hands.

It was so close and yet so far for Connecticut's two Senate candidates. About a mile and a few hours separated Democrat Richard Blumenthal and Republican Linda McMahon Wednesday as they both campaigned in Waterbury.

Blumenthal stopped for some lunch and glad-handing at City Hall Cafe. The candidates could easily have crossed paths, as McMahon has frequently visited City Hall during campaign stops. Not today, though. They will see each other soon enough as they face off in their second debate Thursday morning.

Around the same time, McMahon was touring small businesses. Later, she went to New Opportunities, which provides weatherization and energy assistance, housing and shelter services and programs for the elderly.